BAKERSFIELD, Calif.,-- CSUB men's basketball returned to the
new-look Icardo Center on Saturday night opening their first season of play at
the on-campus facility since 1997 and they christened the building and the
new-blue court with a 79-70 win over Pepperdine.
The Roadrunners (2-1) used high-percentage timely shooting
to control the game after trailing 2-0 in the first minute. It would mark the
last time the Waves led as CSUB pulled ahead by as many as 15 and held off a
late Pepperdine rally and hit free-throws, as they won their second straight
and improved to 2-1. This is CSUB's best start at the Division I level and
their best start since going 5-0 in the 2005-06 season, the final year of
Division II competition. The win also moves CSUB's all-time Icardo Center
record to an impressive 166-16.
Zach Lamb (Jr., Norcross, Ga./Miami-Dade CC) scored a game-high
and career-high 18 points on 7 of 10 shooting with 3 of 4 from the outside, all
of which came in the second half in key moments. Lamb says his shooting caught
Pepperdine off guard.
"They probably weren't expecting it since before this I
haven't really had a good shooting game," said Lamb. "They probably didn't
expect me to hit those shots but I stepped to the line with confidence, tried
to help my team out and they went in"
Issiah Grayson (Jr., Atlanta, Ga./Southern Idaho CC) had
another solid effort for the Roadrunners, the point guard added 15 points 2 of
3 shooting from beyond the arc but managed to go 9 for 12 from the free throw
line. Grayson and Lamb were joined by Adam Young (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev./Barton
CC) who had 11 and Stephon Carter (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif./Garces HS) added 10
points as double-digit scorers for CSUB.
Mo Hughley (Jr., Queens Village, N.Y.) grabbed a team-high 6 rebounds
for the Roadrunners who again showed their depth playing 11 players and getting
contributions from all.
"Our depth is showing and again we still have a lot of work
ahead of us," said head coach Rod Barnes. "I like where this team is...guys are
resilient they're working hard and trying to play together and I'm really
excited about that. "
The 'Runners will return to action Saturday Nov. 26 playing
on the road at Cal State Fullerton (2-0) at 6:05 P.M.
